Thread lubricator



Feb. 28, 1967 J. FRENTZEL-BEYME 3,306,253

THREAD LUBRICATOR Filed 001;. 4, 1963 United States Patent Office R 12 Claims. (Cl. 118-10) Claims My invention relates to a device for applying a smoothing substance to filamentous material such as a parafiin applicator for textile thread material.

For certain operations in the textile industry, such as weaving and knitting for example, it is necessary to make the thread smooth in order to obtain better running and sliding qualities. This is primarily accomplished by coat ing the thread with paraffin while it is rewound from spinning cops onto cross-spools or flask spools. Paraffin applicator devices have accordingly been made in which the thread is drawn between a bearing surface and a parafiin ring lying thereon. In order to avoid wearing out one side of the paraflin ring and forming flutes therein, the parafiin ring can either be placed in rotation positively by suitable means or can be rotated automatically by the thread itself due to its chord-like course with respect to the paratfin ring. Paraffin applicator devices of this type nevertheless have a disadvantage in that the thread must run through at least one clamping point at which a break can occur of its own accord due to slight variations in cross section of the thread. Furthermore, it has also been shown that there is a great tendency for the filaments and dust to cling together at the clamping point and form lumps. This'accumulation of filaments either is drawn off by the thread and wound up on the spool or tends to bind the thread and break it.

A parafiin applicator device has also been known in which the thread is guided over the face of a rotatable paratfin ring without clamping points and is pressed against the ring by guides located outside the ring and lying together opposite the face of the ring. It has been found however that the application of parafiin in a device of this type is insufiicient and uneven. The paraffin takeup of the thread is dependent on the angle of rise or runup angle of the thread onto the paratlin ring, and therefore on the angle at which the thread guides are disposed opposite the faces of the parafiin ring. Due to the takeup of the parafiin by the threads, this angle becomes ever smaller and so does the paraffin applicating efiiciency accordingly. In the known devices the axial position of the paraffin ring is adjustable with the help of a set screw; nevertheless, in order to achieve the best possible uniform quality, continuous parafiin applicating of the threads, the axial position of the paraffin ring must be adjusted again and again by hand after the slightest wearing of the paraffin ring.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a device for applying a smoothing substance to textile thread material, such as a parafiin applicator, which avoids all of the foregoing disadvantages of applicators of a similar nature that have been previously known.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a smoothing substance applicator for textile thread material in which the applicating eifectiveness of the smoothsubstance such as parafiin is greater than in known applicators, and uniform qualities are obtained.

To this end, and according to a feature of my invention, I provide a smoothing substance applicator in which the strand of filaments that is to be covered with the smoothing substance (that is, a single thread, a double thread or two or more twisted or braided threads) is led 3,306,253 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 over the face of a rotatable body formed of a smoothing substance like paraflin and is pressed against the body by means of guides that are located exterior to the body. The body is seated outside of the region scored by the thread either entirely or partly in pressing engagement with a support that is either centrally or eccentrically connected to the guides. Due to this type of body mounting, the smoothing substance e.g. the paraflin coating efliciency is independent of the body which becomes smaller and smaller, since the feed rate of the bodyis contingent on the corresponding rate of consumption thereof. Consequently, the filament strands are effectively pressed against the paraffin body without requiring clamping members. A parafiin applicator constructed in accordance with my invention thus provides a constant application of paraflin to the filament strands by maintaining the filament strands pressed against the paraifin body without clamping devices, the paraffin application being independent of the size of the paratfin body or the feeding force i.e. to press the parafiin against the thread or against the support member.

According to another aspect of my invention, the rotation of the smoothing substance body can beeffected by providing the paramn body with a rectangular recess and by mounting the body upon a mandrel of similar cross section, which is for example rotatable by a geared motor. The smoothing substance body is pressed against the support member or the support member against the body by force storing means, for example mechanically with a spring or weight, hydraulically, pneumatically, magnetically and the like. In order to increase the smoothing substance e.g. parafiin applicating efiiciency, a paraflin body can be provided with a recess into which at least one additional guide for the filament strand projects. For regulation or adjusting the application of paraffin, the axial position of the guide relative to the support member and thereby relative to the face of the paraffin body is adjustable for example by a micrometer .screw. It is particularlyadvantageous if the individual guides for the filament strands are separately adjustable. A greater number of possible variations in the parafiin applicating effect can thereby be produced.

According to another aspect of my invention and in order to be able to replace the smoothing substance e.g. parafiin bodies that are nearly consumed, it is desirable for either the guide holder, preferably jointly with the support, or the paraflin body to be pivotably mounted. In order to make the supervision of the consumed parafiin body easier for the attendant personnel, there is additionally provided in accordance with yet another as pect of my invention, a signal device such as a signal lamp that is controllable with respect to an adjustable parafiin supply.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, both as to its construction and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of one embodiment of a smoothing substance applicator constructed in accordance with the invention and including a partly sectional view of FIG. 3 along the line II taken in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a rear-elevational view, partly in section, along the line II-II, taken in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 along the line III-III taken in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of a second embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. is still another embodiment of the smoothing substance applicator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawings and first particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a thread F which is led over the face of a cylindrical body 1 formed of smoothing substance e.g. paraffin which has a coaxial recess 2 of square cross section. The recess 2 of the paraffin body fits on a bolt 3 of rectangular cross section which is driven by a drive motor 4, the paraffin body being axially displaceable on the bolt 3. A spring 5 applied against an intermediate disc 5a forces the paraffin body in the direction of the thread i.e. vertically downward as viewed in FIG. 1. The axial position of the paraffin body face that is scored by the thread is fixed by the preferably slightly convexshaped bearing or contact surface 6a of a support member 6.

The support member 6 has three end portions or appendices 7, 8 and 9, on which the guides 10, 11 and 12 are located and which are pressed back against the face of the paraffin body. The guides 10, 11 and 12 are formed with bevelled starting surfaces which permit automatic introduction of the thread into the thread guides. The supporting member 6 is pivotably mounted on a pin 13 and is biased by a leaf spring 14 which exerts pressure on a lever arm 15 that extends from the supporting member 6, so that the supporting member 6 abuts against a stop pin 16 which fixes its position. It is understood that my invention consists of a paraffin applicator which permits constant paraffining of the thread with a construction that does not require clamping positions of thread F on the faces of the paraffin body 1, and which is independent of the size of the paraffin body or the force for feeding, that is for pressing the paraffin against the thread or against the supporting member.

The replacement of the consumed or worn paraffin rolls can be effected in an especially simple manner since the supporting member 6 can be swung about the pin 13, and the consumed paraffin ring removed and replaced by a new one, the supporting member being then released so that it returns to its original operating position under the biasing force exerted by the spring 14.

In FIG. 4 those elements which are the same as the elements shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the thread guides 10, 11 and 12 are located on one side of the center line M so that the thread is led eccentrically across the paraffin body. Because of the eccentric position of the thread guides, the formation of radial flutes or grooves in the paraffin body which can occur, for example, by sudden increase in the tension of the thread, is avoided. Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, another means of pressing the parafiin against the support member 6 is shown, as well as a signalling device connected thereto that is controllable in relation to an adjustable paraffin supply. The arm 17a of a three-armed lever 17 is subjected to a force exerted by a tension spring 18 which causes the lever arm 17b to be biased and to press against the paraffin ring 1 in direction toward the supporting member. A preferably adjustable contact 19 is located opposite to an arm 170 of the three-armed lever 17 and is connected to one pole of an electric current source 20. The arm 170 of the three-armed lever 17 is connected with the second pole of the electric source across a signal device, such as a signal lamp 21 for example. As paraffin is removed from the ring 1 by the thread, the three-armed lever 17 turns clockwise (FIG. 4) so that both contacts 19 and 22 come closer together and finally engage one another and close. The signal lamp 21 then lights and the attendant personnel are then warned that the paraffin ring 1 is to be replaced.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of my invention in which a paraffin ring 1 is driven by a geared motor 4 and is biased by a spring 5 against the slightly convex bearing or contact surfaces of a counteracting support member 23. A holding device 29 is connected by a hinge 28 at the center of the counteracting supporting member 23, the holding device 29 being provided with a thread guide 24 in front of and behind the paraffin ring as viewed in FIG. 5. For the sake of clarity in this case a centrally located portion of the thread guide which projects into the recess of the parafiin ring 1, similar to the guide 11 shown in FIG. 3, is not shown in this figure. Its construction should nevertheless cause no difficulty in view of the disclosure of the embodiments provided by FIGS. 1 to 4. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 there is furthermore shown only one of the outer thread-guide portions 24, the other outer guide member being a mirror duplicate thereof. A tension spring 30 pulls the holding device or fixture and therewith the thread-guide portion 24 in direction toward the paraffin body 1. By means of a micrometer screw 25, the axial position of the guide 24 with respect to the holder or support member 23, and thereby with respect to the faces of the paraffin body 1, can be adjusted in order to vary the paraffin applicating effectiveness. The introduction of the thread into the guide 24 can be facilitated by slightly lifting or swinging the holding device about the hinge 28. Both guide portions 24 may be arranged with separate holding devices 29, and each of the holding devices 29 which is swingable about the hinge 28 can be provided with a micrometer screw 25 in order to individually adjust the height of the thread guides 24 with respect to the paraffin ring 1. The geared motor 4 for rotating the paraffin body is secured to one arm of a double-armed lever 26 which is pivotable about a central pin 27 so as to be able to replace the paraffin ring 1. The geared motor 4 is held in operative position by a leaf spring 31 which is formed with a bend in which the other arm of the double-anmed lever 26 is received and by means of which the position of the double-armed lever 26 and consequently the motor 4 and paraffin ring 1 are fixed.

My invention is not limited to the use of paraffin bodies only but rather any smoothing or burnishing means of corresponding similar characteristics may be used instead of paraffin. Furthermore, the paraffin body or the like can have various shapes. However if a cylindrical paraffin body having an axial recess is employed in the paraffin applicator, it is then advantageous when the guides are located in such a way that the thread is guided eccentrically across the paraffin body. The formation of radial flutes or grooves in the paraffin body caused for example by a sudden pressure rise in the thread is avoided.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described as a paraffin applicator for textile thread material, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention. Such adaptations should, and are intended to, be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; support means in pressing engagement with said body only at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body, said guide means guiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and stressing the filament at a location situated away from said surface portion so as to press the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

2. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion;

su ort means in pressing engagement with, said body at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body and comprising a guide centrally dis posed on said support means in line with the axis of r-otation of said body, said guide means guiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and pressing the filament into yieldable engagement with saidsurface portion.

3. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; support meansin pressing engagementwith said body at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body and comprising a guide centrally disposed on said support means in line with the axis of rotation of said body and at least another guide eccentrically disposed on said support means and guidingly aligned with said centrally disposed guide, said guide means guiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and pressing the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

4. A device for applying paraifin to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of parafiin and having a filament-engaging surface portion; support means in pressing engagement with said body only at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body, said guide means guiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and stressing the filament at a location situated away from said surface portion so as to press the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

5. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion, said body being provided with a central aperture; support means in pressing engagement with said body at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body and comprising a guide centrally disposed on said support means in line with the axis of rotation of said body and projecting into the central aperture of said body, said guide means guiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and pressing the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

6. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatably body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; support means in pressing engagement with said body at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body and comprising a guide centrally disposed on said support means in line with the axis of rotation of said body, and at least another guide eccentrically disposed on said support means and guidingly aligned with said centrally disposed guide, said guide means guiding a filament across said filamentengaging surface portion and pressing the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion, the axial position of said guides with respect to said support means being adjustable.

7. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatably body formed of the smoothing sub stance and having a filament-engaging surfacing portion; support means in pressing engagement with said body at a location other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support a means outside of said body and comprising a guide centrally disposed on said support means in line with the axis of rotation of said body and at least another guide eccentrically disposed on said support means and guidingly aligned with said centrally disposed guide, the axial positions of said guides with respect to said support means and to one another being individually adjustable, said guide means guiding a filament across said filamentengaging surface portion and pressing the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

8. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion, said body being provided with a coaxial recess; support means in pressing engagement with said body at a loca tion other than on said filament-engaging surface portion; and guide means carried by said support means outside of said body and comprising a guide centrally disposed on said support means and projecting into the recess of said body off-center from the axis of rotation of said body and at least another guide eccentriaclly disposed on said support means and with respect to said body, said guides being aligned with each other for eccentrically guiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and pressing the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

9. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; a support member mounted in pressing engagement with said body only at a location other than at said filamentengaging surface portion; and a plurality of aligned guides carried by said support member outside of said body, said guides being pivotable together with said support member in a direction toward and away from said body, said guides guiding a filament across said filamentengaging surface portion and stressing the filament at locations situated away from said surface portion so as to press the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

10. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament, such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; a support member mounted in pressing engagement with said body only at a location other than at said filament-engaging surface portion; a plurality ,of aligned guides carried by said support member outside of said body; and means for pivoting said body in a direction toward and away from said support member and said guides, said guides guiding a filament across said filamentengaging surface portion and stressing the filament at locations situated away from said surface portion so as to press the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion.

11. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament such as a thread or the like, comprising a support member; a rotatable body supported by said support member, said body being formed of the smoothing substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; a plurality of aligned guides carried by said support member outside of said body; first biasing means for biasing said body toward said guides and into engagement with said support member at a location on said body other than at said filament-engaging surface portion; and second biasing means for biasing said guides toward said rotatable body and for pressing a filament guided by said guides into yieldable engagement with the filament-engaging surface portion of said body.

12. A device for applying a smoothing substance to the surface of a filament such as a thread or the like, comprising a rotatable body formed of the smoothing 7 substance and having a filament-engaging surface portion; support means in pressing engagement with said body only at a location other than on said filamentengaging surface portion; guide means carried by said support means outside of said body, said guide meansguiding a filament across said filament-engaging surface portion and stressing the filament at a location situated away from said surface portion so as to press the filament into yieldable engagement with said surface portion so that the filament is coated with smoothing substance removed from said body; and signal means responsive to a predetermined reduction in size of said body as the smoothing substance is removed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/ 1920 Marvin et al 118-246 3/1925 Campbell. 6/ 1925 Laux. 4/1927 Noga 118-78 6/ 1949 Coleman et al. 118-78 2/1965 Zollinger 118-78 X FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1923 France.

MORRIS, KAPLAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR APPLYING A SMOOTHING SUBSTANCE TO THE SURFACE OF A FILAMENT, SUCH AS A THREAD OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A ROTATABLE BODY FORMED OF THE SMOOTHING SUBSTANCE AND HAVING A FILAMENT-ENGAGING SURFACE PORTION; SUPPORT MEANS IN PRESSING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BODY ONLY AT A LOCATION OTHER THAN ON SAID FILAMENT-ENGAGING SURFACE PORTION; AND GUIDE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS OUTSIDE OF SAID BODY, SAID GUIDE MEANS GUIDING A 